Name: Louisa + husband + schizophrenic cat
Location: Astoria — Queens, New York
Since we happen to have way more creativity than money just about everything in the apartment was either found (on the streets of NYC), bought at a yard-sale or flea-market or bargained for on some market in South America or Africa (such as a bunch of taqiyahs, wood masks or a few drums), then repainted, repurposed or banged up on the wall.
If I see something I love but cannot afford, few things will give me as much satisfaction as figuring out how I can recreate it.
I am from Sweden and my husband is from Ecuador (the cat is the only one who is a true New Yorker) so maybe our style could be described as Scandinavia meets the beach with a global twist. I am inspired by anything ethnic from suzanis to hand-woven baskets, I love typography, quotes and frames, and anything that was made by heart and creativity.
Our biggest challenge is the constant lack of space and my love for acquiring more stuff — though the benefits of this predicament include getting even more innovative with what space we have as well as more savings.
Thanks Louisa!
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I want mooooore!
I love it! The white floors completely make the place -- do you own or did your landlord allow the change? Please post more pics!
What is written at the top of the gold mirror?
Love love LOVE this by the way.
Great job - inspired, fun, lovely.
So adorable!
I absolutely love this. I want more and would love a house tour of this place. This is going into my style file.
Perfect!
More please!
Louisa! I live in Astoria, too! Isn't it great? I love it here. Your apartment is amazing! I'm in love with it. Especially the white floors. You have terrific taste. See you around the neighborhood! (Except I wouldn't know it was you. Hahaha!)
Love all the textiles... whence came the orange seat pads?
... they're going to unattainable, I assume.
Love it! I would like to see a full house tour. (And a floor plan.)
"Hi honey, I'm home! What's for dinner?"
"A buttload of fruit and a single gerbera in a bowl!"
"Awesome!"
That aside, I really like this place. The crisp white spaces act as a blank canvas for the riot of interesting objects.
That teeeeny tiny glimps of the bedroom is GORGEOUS!!! The white floors, white bed, beeeeautiful black dresser, tapestry, the whimsical white candle latern cage *sigh* .... House Tour!!!
house tour house tour house tour!
perhaps there's not much else to see being it's so small, but i would love to see more. those painted floors, those lanterns and those eclectic accents. very lovely for the space!
I wish I'd dare to paint my floorboards white, it looks so crisp and mediterranean and adds loads of space
Ooh, nice. Black and white and interesting all over. Ditto Allegra M on painted floorboard envy. (And thanks for including a bit of visual nonsense for blandwagon to make fun of. . . I needed a laugh.)
heee, why's the cat Schizo?? just asking =p=)
Love it!
Love it! And I'm looking for cute chair cushions like those...
WHITE FLOORS!!
what a tease!
Beautiful! Would love to see more... and very gorgeous textiles!
What an amazing job~. Everything in this place is intriguing.
I am in love with this space!
white floors are a win
love it. would love to see a full house tour. what is written on the wall in the last photo? i love that idea!
Apparently I'm alone in thinking this place looks overstuffed. She has some nice things, but it is seriously cluttered. Do some editing and give the space some breathing room.
ooo white floor would be enough to please me, the rest is a lovely bonus
I'm with RMF325 on the clutter, but I do love the LOOK, with the ethnic pieces mixed with the black and white background. It allows the place to be very clean, even with all the stuff.
I would also like to know about the last photo. Is that a poster on the right? If it's tall and skinny, I'm thinking how much I love it!
Clutter is really a matter of taste, If you're not into it, your just not into it, and if you are...
I really really like this place. Again, a proper small apartment tour with plenty to think about and Ideas to draw from. Well done.
Another vote for a house tour, and third or fourthing the floor love. How do they stand up to wear and tear?
I love your apartment, especially that Barcelona poster. Where did you get it?
I love the white fresh walls and all the green, leafy plants!
I love it. Beautiful job! I'd want to hang out at your place for hours.
beautiful! would love to see more photos too.
Oh yawn...Always with the "Stuff Police" It's very pretty, "stuff and all!"
I love it! It looks so cosy! But hard to imagine 2 people and a cat living there. Also, I'm such a bookcase person: can hold the same amount as many small tables and free up much floor space. Otherwise, I love it!
Beautiful space..! I too would love to see a house tour. Just gorgeous.
-maria
Astoria represent! Looks great :)
Thanks for all the nice and sweets comments! Glad you like…
I’ll try to answers some of the questions -
@ Caroline in the city – we rent – but we won’t move for a long time and the landlord pretty much does not care so that’s how we got away with painting the floors white.
@ carey78704 – I gold-leafed the mirror (found in the street) and wrote “And in the end you will regret not what you did – but all those things you didn’t”.
@ lepidoptery on - The orange seat pads were bought in Jerusalem, Israel.
@ JulianneMay – not sure why the cat is schizo – I guess we’d have to ask her ;)
@ mekleiber and y basicmouth- I write everywhere on the walls – on the right side I traced the lyrics to a Spanish song I like called “No se tu”. (I also wrote in the right hand corner on the tiny electrical cabinet in that same pic)
@ Theoretical Shopaholic - The floors are not nearly as much as work as they may seem. It is barefoot land and a few “moppings” every month.
@ Red Boots Blog – the Barcelona poster I painted.
Cheers,
Louisa
I also live in a tiny apartment in Barcelona and your house's being so inspiring. Lovely ! I want more pics !
My apt is totally spare and minimal. I love how cozy your place looks! Beautiful space!
Another example why AT should do away with House Calls and just do full fledge House Tours. Beautiful apartment. Want to see more and would love to see a floor plan. I live in a small "cottage" so seeing how someone else beautifully decorated a small space with substance is always facinating. Thanks for sharing. And again...House Tour please!
Oooh...I love the little pops of color. Very nice!
I freakin love this! clutter and all : ) . even in a small space and a ginormous bird cage, I would never even consider it because fo the limited space but somehow this works. awesome job!
full tour, please!
It's as though you've entered my brain, organized it, and made my perfect space come to fruition!
Pretty place but am I the only person who hates hanging fabrics...?? OK, I guess that I am. To me, they're just a bring-down: they eat space, catch dust, and almost always look "college." Otherwise, sweet, and the mirror is the best! PS, I hate to keep grinding this axe, but you peeps all have to negotiate rent reductions for any repair, updating, etc..
I'd love to know what's written on the mirror.
I am obsessed!! Love it! How did you go about painting the floors exactly? Did you do it before you moved in?
www.a-nothersalon.com
Love the space! Where can I buy a large white floor lantern like the one in the bedroom pic?